The “Crimson Band from Bulldog Land” was named the Louisiana Showcase of Marching Bands Reserve Grand Champion recently at the state competition held in Lafayette.

Lee Hicks, director of bands at Fontainebleau High School, has added this accolade to several others he has achieved in his six years at the school. It is as if he has a magical golden baton to lead his bands.

But hard work is his baton.

Fontainebleau High School Director of Bands Lee Hicks shows off '��The Crimson Band from Bulldog Land'�� Reserve Grand Champion trophy won in Lafayette recently. The school'��s band competed against 36 other schools from across Louisiana. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

Hicks said his secret to success is hard work and hours of practice. The band, 180 strong, placed second in the open class competition and the large class competition. Hicks said there were 36 bands in the competition. “It’s about seeing their faces at the end of the performance. At the Lafayette competition, the crowd of about 25,000 went crazy after our performance,” Hicks said.

The marching band requires a lot of time and effort for the students. “I have incredible students to work with; they are so motivated and talented,” he said.

The marching band is co-curricular; students attend band classes during the day and rehearsals are held after school two days a week for two and a half hours. Sometimes they also rehearse on Saturdays, and there is also a band camp in July.

Other bands at FHS have also won competitions, such as the Jazz Ensemble ,which placed fourth in the Savannah Music Festival’s Swing Central Jazz Band Competition in April. Two of the bands that placed ahead of the jazz band are schools of the arts, where the groups routinely practice three hours a day. The jazz ensemble from FHS only practices twice a week, after school.

He also has guests in his class to critique the bands, such as Jason Marsalis. He says he wants to get the working professionals to visit them as much as possible.

“Getting bands into the national limelight is my goal,” Hicks said. “It’s easy to stay at home; I want these students to see as much as they can and learn from it.”

Hicks said he wants the students to look outside of Louisiana and see what is going on in the rest of the country and world. He wants the students to get a different view, broaden students’ view of what could be, and see what opportunities are available.

Some of the trips the FHS bands have been on include playing the national anthem at a Chicago Cubs game in Chicago. They have also been invited to perform at a Saints game, but scheduling conflicts have prevented thus far.

Hicks, a New Orleans native who attended De La Salle High School, backed into the teaching profession.

A professional musician in his own right, he played professionally before deciding to finish his college degree and teach.

Hicks directs a number of bands at FHS, including three concert bands: the wind symphony, concert band and symphonic band; jazz ensemble; jazz workshop band and the winter guard and winter percussion.

The winter bands are indoor marching groups that help keep skills sharp in the off-season and for Mardi Gras parades.

He could easily have more bands and more classes, but said there are simply not enough hours in the day or enough room in the school.

The best part of this, Hicks said is “to be able to teach what you love to do and do it all day.”